February is here and we can feel the change in the air. Just as we turn the page on our calendar to usher in a new month, the cool air of January suddenly vanishes and gives way to warmer weather. SM North EDSA’s Great Northern Sale happens at a fitting time as we make new purchases to get ready for the coming summer months.

For this sale weekend, my goal was to find denim pants, short sleeve blouses and flat sandals.

As usual when it’s sale time at SM, I try to go on the morning of the first day. Yesterday, I didn’t manage to get out of the house early, and arrived at the mall at a little past 11am. I headed to Uniqlo hoping to find short sleeve shirts and denim pants. The store wasn’t full as I expected it to be, maybe because the merchandise sold was still for the cool spring season and consisted more of jackets and other long-sleeve tops. I didn’t find any blouse or shirt that I liked. I was happy though to find denim pants in my size. The pants were not on sale but because I had the SM Advantage Card, I got a 10% discount. Mission pants accomplished.

Below is a picture of my new Uniqlo pants, along with the Uniqlo t-shirt that I won in a giveaway contest over Twitter a few days ago. This is my usual get-up: jeans and t-shirt or collared shirt. Nothing fancy, just simply casual.

Unfortunately, mission blouses and sandals were failures. There were a lot of clothes to choose from from a lot of shops, but the problem was that there were already a lot of people even at that early time, especially at the SM Department Store where they have the biggest discounts. I hate waiting in line and there were already long lines in the fitting rooms and checkout counters.

As I exit the department store, I see one of my favorite stores, Booksale, and go inside. It’s usually a cramped space on weekends, but I still take the time to browse the titles. I find three books by familiar women authors and buy them. Three books for 77 pesos total – now that’s a bargain!

I walked all floors of the City Center main building, The Block and Cyberzone to scan what’s being offered on sale. If I had an unlimited budget, I would have bought a digital camera, a printer-scanner-copier in one, a pair of eyeglasses and sunglasses, curtains and some clear plastic storage boxes. [Sigh.]

Here are some pictures taken during the first of the 3-day sale at SM North EDSA.

SM The Block

The Block Chinese New Year display

Music CDs at P99

Shoes from Levi's

Watson's

Nature Republic

So Fab!

shoppers filling out raffle entries

Buy 1 Take 1 on bags

long lines

sandals perfect for the summer

jewelry also on sale

hallways are filled with sale items

early shoppers

P100 bargains

Lola's has shopping fever

Cyberzone

It’s past 2pm and my feet are tired. I am also hungry, and I’m getting angry as I see that most restaurants are full. Luckily, Kenny Rogers Roasters have a few seats left so I go in to eat and rest.

After finishing my late lunch, I declare the shopping day over and head home to decide if a return trip is needed to get the other items in my short buying list.

SM North EDSA‘s Great Northern Sale is from February 1 to 3. Be there at the opening hour as it gets very crowded in the afternoon. Happy shopping!